Shakta / Devi Mahatmya

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu

Ya De-vi Sar-va Bhu-te-shu Shak-ti Ru-pe-na Sam-sthi-ta, Na-mas-ta-syai Na-mas-ta-syai Na-mas-ta-syai Na-mo Na-mah

"To the Goddess who abides in all beings as power — again and again, salutations to her"

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Meaning & Translation

Sanskrit

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

Transliteration

Ya De-vi Sar-va Bhu-te-shu Shak-ti Ru-pe-na Sam-sthi-ta, Na-mas-ta-syai Na-mas-ta-syai Na-mas-ta-syai Na-mo Na-mah

Deity / Quality Invoked

The Divine Mother

Pronunciation

Hear It Spoken

yah DAY-vee SAR-vah bhoo-TAY-shoo SHAHK-tee roo-PAY-nah sahm-STHEE-tah, nah-mahs-TAHS-yai nah-mahs-TAHS-yai nah-mahs-TAHS-yai NAH-moh NAH-mah-hah

Full Translation

This verse honors the Goddess who dwells in every being in the form of shakti — power, energy, capacity itself: "To that Devi who abides in all beings as power, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, again and again." In the full hymn the verse repeats with different divine qualities — as consciousness, as peace, as compassion, as mother.

Spiritual Significance

The mantra trains the eye to see the divine feminine not as distant but as the very energy animating everything — the strength in the body, the intelligence in nature, the compassion in the heart. Its triple "namastasyai" builds like a wave, making it a natural chant for group devotion to the Goddess.

Cultural Context & History

The verse comes from the Devi Suktam of the Devi Mahatmya (Chandi Path), the central scripture of Goddess worship, recited especially during Navaratri. Sacred chant duo Edo & Jo recorded a meditative "Ya Devi" setting, and the hymn is sung in Devi temples and kirtan gatherings alike.

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